On November 10, 2014, we left Myrtle Beach, South Carolina,
and drove to Savannah, Georgia where we stayed for a few days before
finally arriving in Port Richey, Florida.
(The trip to Savannah
was a second visit for us, the first being in 2011, which I blogged about here.) In
the past we've spent our on-the-road winters in different South Texas Towns,
and various Arizona locations, but this year
will be the first year we spend an entire winter season in Florida. Five other RV'ing couples we know
who also like to come to warmer southern climes this time of year will comprise
our small neighborhood of friends and golfers in the RV Resort we are staying
in. In addition to golfing and reconnecting with old friends, Dan and I like to
explore what the area has to offer for biking and hiking, and here we found the
J.B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve. This gem of a park nestled in the middle of a
very busy city is filled with miles of walking, hiking, equestrian, and biking
trails that wind through forests of pine flatwoods, cypress domes, freshwater
marshes, stream and lake swamps, and sandhill and scrub covering an 8500 wetland
ecosystem. We've been to the park a couple of times to ride our bikes, and plan
to make this a regular destination while in Port Richey. So far we've spotted
deer, a red rat snake, an armadillo, lots and lots of lizards, and a variety of
water birds. On our first visit we stumbled into a winter Christmas Wonderland
as well, very fun and timely!
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Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is a major center of tourism in the United States
due to the warm subtropical climate and extensive beaches, attracting an
estimated 14 million visitors each year. This year as we made our way south to Florida, we decided to
spend a week in this coastal city, staying in an RV Park situated right along
the beach. Our RV site was a 5-minute walk to the beach, and also walking
distance to the Myrtle Beach
State Park. All we had to
do was step out the door and onto the beach, or meander over to the park to get
in hours of walking and sightseeing. We saw many varieties of birds who didn't appear to be overly shy of humans,
allowing us to get some great pictures. For several days during our stay, the
RV Park filled up with visitors participating in The Beach Ride, an annual
event sponsored by the American Heart Association. This event attracts over
1000 participants (and their horses!) annually, and is the largest trail ride
on the beaches of South Carolina.
We were literally surrounded by horses and their companions for a few days,
while the RV Park was transformed into a staging ground for parades, vendors,
campfires, and horseback riding. Myrtle Beach is
a beautiful part of the Atlantic
Coast, which explains why
so many people flock here, and is also why we will probably be content with
this one visit.
Not every United States president has his own
library, but we have made it one of our goals to visit the Presidential
Libraries that do exist when we are within striking distance of one. Such was
the case when we were staying in Spout Spring, Virginia this year and discovered that Woodrow Wilson's
library was only 80 miles away in Staunton.
Although that was somewhat of a drive, it allowed us another trek through the Blue Ridge Parkway,
so we really didn't mind at all. As always when visiting a Presidential Library,
here I was able to deepen my knowledge of American history, and learn more
about the man himself, both in his role as president, and as a human being. As
the 28th President, Wilson
was responsible for many social and economic reforms including the passage of
the Federal Reserve Act, the Child Labor Reform Act, and legislation that
supported unions to ensure fair treatment of working Americans. The 19th
Amendment was ratified during his second term, guaranteeing all women the right
to vote. Wilson
is best remembered for his leadership during World War I, and his attempt to
establish the League of Nations. At the Paris
Peace Conference, Wilson
proposed “Fourteen Points” as the basis for the peace treaty. The final Treaty
of Versailles included many of Wilson’s ideas,
but the Treaty was voted down by Congress, and the United
States never joined the League of
Nations. While touring the country in 1919 to boost public support
for the League, Wilson
fell ill from exhaustion and suffered a stroke from which he never fully
recovered. After leaving office in 1921, Wilson and his wife moved to a private
residence in northwest Washington,
D.C. He died there at the age of
67 on 3 February 1924, and is buried in the Washington National Cathedral.
